City of Montreal to host ICLEI World Congress 2018

ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability and the City of Montréal are proud to announce that Montréal will host the upcoming ICLEI World Congress 2018.

Held every three years, the ICLEI World Congress assembles hundreds of local and subnational governments, international agencies, national governments, donors and other partners from around the world to set the course for globalizing urban sustainability. It is the premier assembly for cities, towns and regions in the ICLEI Network that are driving forward stronger cumulative action by connecting with peers, fostering partnerships and exchanging information, experiences and best practices.

The City of Montréal was selected through a highly competitive bidding process. Hosting the congress gives Montréal the opportunity to showcase how sustainability is transforming the city and the daily life of its residents. The city was selected for its strong leadership, exemplary sustainability policy and the replicability of its initiatives, including a strong city sustainable development plan for 2016-2020, a canopy action plan including the planting of more than 300,000 additional trees on private and public land as well as the promotion of sustainable mobility like bicycle paths, public bike sharing and electrification of transportation.

“We are glad to be the host of ICLEI World Congress 2018 in Montréal. Our city is putting sustainable development at the heart of its decisions and thus for the benefit of our population and the future generations. ICLEI World Congress 2018 will be an opportunity to discuss with our colleagues from other cities of the world the concrete accomplishments achieved with regard to sustainable development and exchange ideas. In addition, since Montréal will be celebrating the 375th anniversary of its founding in 2017, many legacy projects are being planned to transform our city. Our ICLEI colleagues will have an on-site view of the results of these pivotal projects” said the mayor of Montréal, Mr Denis Coderre.

The City of Montréal. a Member of ICLEI since 1993, has fostered a strong partnership with the ICLEI Network over the past two decades. Mayor Coderre actively adopted the Seoul Declaration at the ICLEI World Congress 2015, and was one of the first Canadian mayors to commit to the Compact of Mayors. The City of Montréal also hosted ICLEI Canada’s first annual Livable Cities Forum in 2011 and has been an active member of the Partners for Climate Protection Program since 1998.

“We are delighted that the City of Montréal will host ICLEI World Congress 2018, and to work closely with Mayor Coderre to prepare this event,” commented ICLEI Secretary General Gino Van Begin. “I am certain that with his inspiring leadership, ICLEI World Congress 2018 will be a key milestone for driving forward Montréal’s own work in sustainable urban development, as well as further accelerating the work of the entire ICLEI Network.”

The City of Montréal is an ideal partner and host for ICLEI World Congress 2018. As the largest city in Québec and the second largest city in Canada, Montréal is a bastion of knowledge, innovation and culture, featuring a vibrant blend of people, languages and an infectious joie de vivre.

Photo credit

"Montreal: Skyline from Mont RoyalQuito" by Taxiarchos228 is licensed under CC BY 3.0